The M/V Kennicott experienced a malfunction of one of its trailing edge Becker rudder while it was docking in Kodiak on Tuesday, the Alaska Marine Highway System said.

The Kennicott will be repaired at the Alaska Ship and Drydock facility in Ketchikan. While it is in repairs, the M/V Taku will take passengers between Ketchikan and Prince Rupert.

"Because of the Kennicott rudder malfunction, we are going to have to juggle some ships around to help our customers reach their destination," said AMHS General Manager John Falvey. "It's not immediately clear how long it will take for the Kennicott to return to service but we expect it to be back in a relatively short time."

The M/V Tustumina, which is transiting between Kodiak and Homer, has the capacity to take on all the passengers inconvenienced by the breakdown of the Kennicott. As a result of the malfunction, the Kennicott will cancel its Sept. 2 sailing from Ketchikan to Prince Rupert and the Taku will take its place.

The Kennicott was already scheduled to travel Cross Gulf on Wednesday to begin it's regularly scheduled sailing to Prince Rupert and back to Whittier.

A Becker rudder is a maneuvering tab that is attached to the trailing edge of the ship's main rudder. Customers with prior reservations on the Kennicott are being asked to contact their closest AMHS terminal or call (800) 642-0066 for updates.